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U.S. 221 Traffic Pattern Change

Updated: Monday, December 16 2013, 10:01 AM ESTRALEIGH Motorists on both directions of U.S. 221 in Rutherford County between the South Carolina state line and Harris-Henrietta Road will notice a change in traffic pattern starting Monday, Sept. 16, as work continues on converting the five-mile stretch of highway into what is called a superstreet.

The work, which is expected to last several weeks, weather permitting, will involve constructing concrete islands that will control left turns from U.S. 221. While this work is underway, drivers on U.S. 221 will be unable to make left turns at intersections, including Chase High School Road, State Line Road, Island Ford Road, Henson Road and Buck Collins Road. When work is completed, drivers will once again be able to turn left at intersections.

Additionally, when this portion of the work begins, drivers coming from side streets onto U.S. 221 will only be able to make right turns onto U.S. 221. This will be a permanent change to the traffic pattern on this section of U.S. 221. This means drivers will no longer be able to continue directly across or make left turns onto U.S. 221. Instead, they will have to turn right onto U.S. 221 and use the closest designated u-turn location to continue across the road or travel in the opposite direction.

During this time period, the inside lanes of northbound and southbound U.S. 221 will be closed, and traffic will be shifted to one lane in each direction.

This is part of a $66.1 million project to widen U.S. 221 from the South Carolina state line to north of the U.S. 74 Bypass in Rutherford County. Project contractor is DeVere Construction Co. of Alpena, Mich. Widening along this five-mile section of U.S. 221 is scheduled for completion by June 1, 2014, with the remainder of the project scheduled for completion by Sept. 1, 2014.